9th BRICS Summit: A Breakup of What Transpired

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The BRICS grouping with its member countries-Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa is building a new world BRIC by BRIC. This year marks 9th BRICS summit. Starting from Yekaterinburg summit in Russia in 2009 to Xiamen in China this year. And the group has moved much. Initially an economic grouping the group has increased its ambit to include politics also.

Xiamen summit comes at a time when politically speaking, the world is facing a number of crisis. From Syria to Afghanistan to North Korea. The tremors of North Korea's nuclear tests have reached Xiamen. It was under this shadow of North Korea's nuclear test and tentacles of terror these 5 countries met.

FOCUS ON PAK BACKED TERROR GROUPS

This year’s Xiamen summit had everything substantial on terror. 3 full para devoted just to terror in the declaration. Biggest victory came for India in terms of declaration mentioning Pakistan backed terror groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad. This is the first time such mention has come in a BRICS declaration. And it vindicates India's old stand.

The Xiamen declaration said "We, in this regard, express concern on the security situation in the region and violence caused by the Taliban, ISIL/DAISH, Al-Qaida and its affiliates including Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement, Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the Haqqani network, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Hizbut-Tahri".It’s also interesting to note the declaration mentioned Haqqani network, a group that has given headache to the Americans in Afghanistan. Americans have many times called Islamabad to take action. So much so that American aid has been stopped calling for Pakistan to show it had acted against the terror network.

The declaration mentions Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement that has given headache to China in the restive Xinjiang region in western China. The terror group aims to establish an independent state called East Turkestan in Western China. The activities of Taliban, DAISH and Al-Qaida are all very well known.

CONDEMN TERROR IN ALL ITS FORM: BRICS

The Xiamen declaration categorically deplored all terrorist attacks worldwide, including attacks in BRICS countries, and condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations wherever committed and by whomsoever. It stressed that there can be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. BRICS also called for expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) by the United Nations General Assembly. CCIT has been an India led initiative and Prime Minister Modi on various international forums and bilateral visits has called for its adoption. The convention calls for common definition of terror. For over 190 members of the UN it might be a difficult task but more and more countries are now agreeing with India's point.

CROSS BORDER TERROR FINDS MENTION

It is also interesting to note that BRICS has called on all States to prevent financing of terrorist networks & terrorist actions from their territories. To translate this diplomatic language, it means the countries have in unison said that it was time cross border terror came to an end. For India this means end of cross border terror from Pakistan. It is widely accepted that Pakistan has been fomenting terror in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir. But despite global insistence Pakistan continues its policy of covert and asymmetric war against India.

NO GOOD OR BAD TERROR: INDIA

In the MEA briefing at the end of day 1 of the BRICS summit Preeti Saran, Secretary East said "You cannot have good & bad terror". It is noteworthy that joint declarations are outcome of hard negotiations by all group members. Sherpa of all countries sometime burn the midnight oil to hammer out intricacies of these declarations. Every word matters. Each para has a global significance and nothing is left to misinterpretation. So when joint declaration mentions Pakistan based terror groups it’s not without Beijing consent. Pakistan and China are "all weather friends". This will be seen as a strong message sent from Xiamen to Islamabad. Will Islamabad read the writing on the wall?

The issue of terror has been dealt in its entirety in Xiamen declaration. BRICS has called upon all nations to adopt a comprehensive approach in combating terrorism, which should include countering radicalization, recruitment, movement of terrorists including Foreign Terrorist Fighters,

Blocking sources of financing terrorism, dismantling terrorist bases, and countering misuse of the Internet including social media by terrorist entities through misuse of the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Internet and the dark web are being used by terror groups to spread their ideology. More and more emphasis is being given to prevent stop social media from becoming a means to spread the ideology of hate and chaos.

Perhaps that is the biggest victory for India at Xiamen summit. Increasingly world is listening to India and concurring with its view.

FOCUS ON AFGHANISTAN

But talk on terror can’t be over unless countries who have paid the price are mentioned--Afghanistan. India's close ally and a country that has lost an entire generation due to interference from Pakistan. BRICS strongly condemned terrorist attacks resulting in death of innocent Afghan nationals and called for immediate cessation of violence. BRICS reaffirmed its support to the people of Afghanistan in their efforts to achieve "Afghan-led and Afghan-owned" peace and national reconciliation. Mentioning the Moscow Format of consultations on Afghanistan and "Heart of Asia-Istanbul Process" BRICS said that they support the efforts of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces in fighting terrorist organizations.

INDIA'S ROLE IN AFGHANISTAN LAUDED BY ALL

Both Former President Karzai and present President Ghani lauded India's role. India is heavily invested in massive infrastructure projects in the country. The Afghan Parliament and The India Afghan Friendship dam (Salma Dam) in Herat are some examples. Prime Minister Modi has himself visited Afghanistan twice. Many Afghans regularly come to India to study and call India a home away from home. India Afghanistan Air Corridor aims to open Indian markets for Afghan products specially fruits.

WEST ASIA: YEMEN, IRAQ, SYRIA & IRAN

Focus was also on Middle East in Xiamen. BRICS congratulated the people and Government of Iraq for the recovery of Mosul and for the progress achieved in the fight against terrorism while reaffirming the grouping's commitment to Iraq's sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence. This is important given the fact that northern Iraq--also called Kurdistan-- is heading for a referendum, a referendum for independence. If this areas goes ahead it could have wider ramifications for West Asia. An Independent state in northern Iraq could affect Turkey which also has a sizable Kurdish population. This could also open up other sectarian fissures in West Asia.

Moving on, BRICS had its concerns for Yemen, Syria and Gulf region. For Yemen BRICS urged all parties to cease hostilities and resume negotiations supported by the United Nations. For the Gulf, BRICS called on all parties directly involved in the current diplomatic crisis in the region to overcome their dissensions through dialogue and welcomed the efforts of Kuwaiti mediation.

And for Syria, BRICS reiterated an inclusive "Syrian-led, Syrian-owned" political process which safeguards the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Syria, in pursuance of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254(2015). Syria, which by now has become a proxy war between Saudis, Iranians, Americans and Russians. BRICS has called for a meaningful progress in the peace talks under the auspices of the United Nations. Note the use of UN. Things are not as simple on the ground. The Syrian civil war started in 2011 and no end seems to be in sight. Millions have been killed and cities have been reduced to rubble.

Iran also found its mentioned at a time when US is eager to tear apart the Iran Nuclear deal. BRICS said that it firmly supports the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear issue and called upon all relevant parties to comply fully with their obligations and ensure full and effective implementation of the JCPOA to promote international and regional peace and stability. The most relevant party in this case is United State of America under Trump. Question is after Paris agreement withdrawal, will US tear apart the Iran Nuclear deal?

NORTH KOREA: WHEN TREMORS SHOOK XIAMEN

And finally, usual statement came on North Korea. "BRICS strongly deplore the nuclear test conducted by the DPRK. We express deep concern over the ongoing tension and prolonged nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, and emphasize that it should only be settled through peaceful means and direct dialogue of all the parties concerned." One of the stake holder is China, another is Russia. A war in North Korea impacts both. Stakes are high and the world is tensed.

But things are changing. BRICS perhaps is a stepping stone to changing world order. A world order that currently is uncertain and unstable.